It’s cold and flu season so it’s time to remember that driving while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs means any kind of drugs, from prescriptions to over-the-counter medications – including any that may cause drowsy driving in addition to other unsafe behaviors, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

State law dictates drivers can be charged with driving under the influence of, or driving while your ability is impaired, by any drug — including medical marijuana.

“Many legal and commonly used OTC and prescription drugs can affect a person’s ability to operate machinery, including driving a vehicle,” according to a news release.

And by impaired, state law means any drug that affects your driving “to the slightest degree.” If it makes you less able to exercise clear judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the safe operation of a vehicle than normal, it’s illegal to drive.

“If you are taking a medication, especially if it is new or a higher dose, you should not drive until you understand the effect it has on your judgment, coordination and reaction time,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in the release. “Read the labels and follow them. Some medications may not affect you on their own, but if taken with alcohol or second medication, they may cause impairment.”

Aside from drugs, fatigue can result in drowsy driving, which can be deadly too.

“Colorado State Troopers saw a concerning number of drivers operating while fatigued and drivers asleep at the wheel, causing 52 serious injury and even fatal crashes in 2022,” according to the CSP release.

Weaving between lanes, changes in speed, and tailgating are big problems with highway safety, as is a delayed reaction time to obstacles, said the agency.

Troopers recommend that if you begin to suffer any of the symptoms of drowsy driving, you pull over in a safe place and take a 20-minute nap to help restore you.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, some of the top signs of drowsy driving, which are similar to signs of drunk driving include:

• Heavy eyelids or frequent blinking

• Frequent yawning

• Daydreaming and trouble focusing

• Drifting back and forth between lanes

• Hitting a rumble strip

• Drooping head

• Poor recall of the last few miles

• Missing signs or exits

• Restlessness, irritability, and aggressiveness, including tailgating

“Troopers continue to take a low-tolerance approach to the top fatal crash factors, including lane violations while launching a yearlong campaign called ‘Drive Safe’,” according to the release. “This campaign reminds people to control their lane position based on their current driving environment.”